76: Chapter 76: A High-Ranking Official Arrested, the Truth Revealed

The drum sounded three times; the third quarter of the Zi hour had arrived.

Chen Xuan's eyes sharpened, and he slammed his right palm into the ground, sending gravel flying.

Like an arrow released from a bowstring, he dashed out of the abandoned warehouse, a short blade flipping in his sleeve, pointing directly at the two guards carrying the crates ahead.

The back of his blade struck one man's neck hard, and the fellow collapsed to the ground without even a groan. As the other turned around, his chin was already struck by Chen Xuan's uppercut, sending him tumbling backward.

Leng Shuang arrived from the left, breaking the wind. Her white clothes were purer than snow, and as her sword tip lightly touched the ground, a chilling cold spread through the cracks of the blue bricks, leaving a layer of thin frost in its wake.

Without stopping, she pointed her fingers together and struck rapidly with her left hand. The two servants attempting to run to the stables to report the situation suddenly froze, their faces turning blue and their teeth chattering.

Zhao Hongling leaped down from the roof, crossing her twin blades against the neck of the last porter, the sharp edges pressing down until he fell to his knees, unable to rise.

"Don't move, my blades don't have eyes," she grinned, her eyes and brows filled with Battle Intent.

Dugu Xue stood at the exit of the waterway, her silver armor reflecting the faint light. With her longsword held horizontally across her chest, she hadn't even unleashed a sword flourish, yet her Killing Intent had already locked down the entire escape route.

Her gaze was like ice as she stared into the depths of the dark canal; the moment anyone dared to show their head, they would be met with a sword strike.

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou was standing by the carriage, counting the crates, when he suddenly felt a cold wind hit his face. Looking up, he saw four figures surrounding him. His expression changed drastically, and he turned to flee toward the underground vault.

"You want to leave?" Liu Ruyan stepped forward, and with a flick of her hand, the bronze token landed at his feet with a crisp "clack."

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou looked down, his pupils constricting violently.

"Do you recognize this?"

Liu Ruyan's voice was not loud, but every word felt like a nail. "My father, Liu Zhengqing, was upright and honest, but he died unjustly because of your forged evidence! This bronze token was his official credential when he served as a Ministry of Revenue official!"

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou stumbled backward. "Nonsense! Who are you? How dare you act wildly here! Someone come…"

Before he could finish, Chen Xuan flashed in front of him. He pressed his index and middle fingers together, wiped them lightly across his nose, and then struck the Jianjing acupoint on his shoulder. Half of Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou's body went numb, his legs gave out, and he fell to his knees.

"No one is coming to save you." Chen Xuan crouched down, staring into his eyes. "The pack horses you arranged, the waterways you took, the underground vault you hid—everything is under our noses. If you don't speak now, it won't be this easy when you face the Empress later."

Cold sweat broke out on Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou's forehead as he tried to struggle. "You have no right to arrest me! I am an official of the Imperial Court! I want to see Your Majesty to seek justice!"

"Seek justice?" Zhao Hongling sneered, raising her foot to step on his back. "How many people have you left with no path to justice? Do you have no idea yourself?"

Leng Shuang returned her sword to its scabbard and said indifferently, "We have the perpetrator and the stolen goods; the evidence is as solid as a mountain. If you are sensible and confess now, you might suffer less."

Dugu Xue remained guarding the waterway entrance, saying in a low voice, "The soldiers in the Northern Territory are fighting on empty stomachs, yet you are here transporting silver to run away. Tell me, what is your crime?"

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou shuddered, finally ceasing his clamor.

Chen Xuan stood up and nodded to the group. "Tie him up and take him to the palace."

Before dawn, the group escorted Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou through the streets and alleys, heading straight into the Imperial Palace.

The guards at the gate saw that Chen Xuan was leading the group and spotted the tightly bound Vice Minister of Revenue. Though shocked, no one dared to stop them.

Inside the imperial throne room, Empress Murong Wan was already seated behind the dragon desk. She had not changed out of her bright yellow dragon robe, and her Nine Dragon and Nine Phoenix crown was neatly in place, as if she had not slept all night.

Her fingertips tapped lightly against her vermilion brush. Her gaze swept over Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou, who was kneeling in the hall, and she spoke coldly, "Official Zhang, you were not resting in your residence last night, yet you rose so early. Where were you planning to go?"

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou prostrated himself. "Your Majesty, please discern the truth! I have been framed! These ledgers and silver are not mine; someone must have planted them to frame me!"

"Framed?" Chen Xuan stepped forward and placed a stack of documents on the desk. "Then explain this: why does the private seal on the iron gate of the underground vault match the pattern on the jade pendant at your waist perfectly? And these three ledgers, which detail every item, show that thirty percent of the southern line's military rations were skimmed, and fifty thousand taels of the Northern Territory's military pay were embezzled. Is that not your personal seal stamped at the end?"

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou looked up, his throat bobbing as he argued stubbornly, "Forged! It is all forged! I have never done such a thing!"

"Is that so?" Empress Murong Wan slowly opened a ledger and read, "In the third month of the twelfth year of Jiahe, Vice Minister of Revenue Zhang Weizhou accepted eight thousand taels of silver from Regional Commander Li Chongli, allowing him to falsify military achievements. In the sixth month of the same year, you colluded with an overseas merchant association to purchase inferior military equipment at a low price, passing them off as high-quality iron in the official reports. Was this also forged?"

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou's face turned deathly pale. "This… this is slander! Your Majesty! I have served as an official for thirty years with utter loyalty. How can you tolerate such petty people…"

"Enough!" Empress Murong Wan slammed her palm onto the desk, knocking the vermilion brush over. "You speak of loyalty, but do you know how Liu Zhengqing died?"

The hall fell silent.

Liu Ruyan stood in the corner, her fingers gripping the bronze token tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Liu Zhengqing discovered that you were embezzling military pay and colluding with foreign enemies, so he wrote a memorial to impeach you."

Empress Murong Wan's voice dropped lower. "You spent the night forging evidence to falsely accuse him of corruption and bribery. During the joint trial by the three ministries, before anything could be verified, he died suddenly in prison. With a single claim of suicide out of fear of punishment, you erased all the truth."

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou's lips trembled. "He… he brought it upon himself! If he hadn't interfered in this matter, how would he have ended up like that!"

"So you admit it?" Chen Xuan sneered.

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou looked up sharply, wanting to argue, but Empress Murong Wan waved her hand. A eunuch stepped forward holding a wooden box. When opened, it revealed several letters and a confession.

"This is the written confession of your aide, Wang Dehai," Empress Murong Wan said. "He was arrested at an estate outside the city and could not withstand the interrogation; he confessed everything. You conspired with local regional commanders to cut military pay under the guise of famine, then filled the gaps with overseas smuggling to reap huge profits. Had it not been for Liu Zhengqing discovering it, you would have already succeeded."

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou slumped to the floor, cold sweat streaming down.

"And that's not all," Chen Xuan added. "You also wanted to use this chaos to force the Imperial Court to establish a Regency Cabinet, led by you, to hollow out the imperial power. Unfortunately, you forgot that some debts cannot be erased just by burning a few ledgers."

Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou finally broke down, prostrating himself and weeping bitterly. "Your Majesty, spare my life! This old servant was confused for a moment! I only ask to keep my life; I am willing to hand over all the ill-gotten gains and never interfere in politics again!"

"It is too late." Empress Murong Wan stood up slowly, her gaze like a blade. "You embezzled military pay, leaving soldiers at the border without food or clothing; you framed loyal officials, corrupting the court; you colluded with foreign enemies, shaking the foundation of the nation. Every single charge is unforgivable."

She turned toward the hall entrance. "Guards, drag him to the Celestial Prison and execute him on an appointed day. Hand the list of those involved to the Censorate for a thorough investigation; do not let a single one escape."

Armored guards entered in response and dragged the limp Vice Minister Zhang Weizhou away.

Liu Ruyan stood in place, motionless for a long time. She looked down at the bronze token in her hand, her fingertips tracing the name on it over and over. Suddenly, her knees bent, and she slowly knelt, bowing heavily toward the dragon desk.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for clearing my father's name." Her voice was very soft, yet it clearly resonated throughout the hall.

Empress Murong Wan looked at her, her expression softening slightly. "Miss Liu, there is no need for such formalities. Your father's innocence was something the Imperial Court owed him."

A moment later, Empress Murong Wan read the imperial edict: Liu Zhengqing was posthumously awarded the title of Loyal and Resolute Grand Master, his Family's reputation was restored, his spirit tablet would be enshrined in the Shrine of Loyal Martyrs, and his descendants would be permitted to study at the Imperial Academy.

Liu Ruyan bowed again; this time, she did not lift her head.

Tears fell silently, dripping onto the bronze token and leaving a wet mark. But her back was straight, her shoulders no longer slumped, as if the heavy burden she had carried for over a decade had finally been lifted.

Chen Xuan walked to her side and said softly, "It's done."

She nodded, took a breath, stood up slowly, and looked out of the hall.

The morning sun was rising, golden light spilling over the palace walls and shining on her face, feeling warm.

Leng Shuang silently stood to her right, and Zhao Hongling patted her shoulder. "From now on, no one will dare to say you are the daughter of a criminal official."

Dugu Xue also walked over and nodded gently; she did not speak, but her eyes were gentle.

Chen Xuan looked at them and smiled. "Next, it's time to have a good meal."

Liu Ruyan turned to look at him, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. Although she did not laugh aloud, there was light in her eyes.

Empress Murong Wan finished reviewing the last memorial and looked out of the hall. The morning breeze blew past, stirring a strand of hair by her ear.

She reached out to touch her earlobe; her expression was slightly weary, yet it revealed a hint of relief.

Everyone in the hall returned to their places, waiting quietly for the next decree. No one left.

The sun rose higher.